If I knew.

We learn too late to be quiet. Anger and violence leads only to more pain and sadness.

  If I knew
 
 If I knew.
 I would of  loved more and said less.
 
Sweet memories slip into my mind of us.
Two people loving and holding tight like it was our last moment.
 
I remember walking  hand in  hand with you.
On lonely beaches.
Never more happy.
 
 The sweet times are rare now.
 
 Eyes of youth had faded away with life burdens and losses.
 
 I look into the mirror and see a tire man.
 
 I wish to go back and feel again.
 To hunger for sweet  kisses and love til the morning light.
 
Walk down the naked beaches of Monterey coast.
In a mist of silence with a gentle hand in mine. 
 
 I didn't know laughter and dreams would fade away.
 
 If I knew I would of try to stop time.
 
 Hold you like you were my last breath.
 
                          John Castellenas
                            Coyote

Author's Note

Life is long and hard. My Grandfather told me along time ago. Nothing good to say. Say nothing. I tell my children the same.
Coyote

Reviews

[Nautili]

I love the vulnerability of this poem, you speak of naked beaches, and metaphorically your soul is naked in this poem. You admit you are tired, jaded, uninspired. I love when people are just real.
And you want to fix it, to change it, to feel the vitality of the relationship once again. You are not content to just let the passion dissolve into nothingness. Such an honest work.

[Liza]

thank you for sharing with us the precious and valuable lessons of life; of the changes that will come upon us and we must grasp the now so later we do not regret not appreciating all the best...

[Sweet_pale_cacophony]

You write with such tender poignancy that the heart can smile delicately and weep too..at the same time...there are some grammatical mistakes here which if corrected could make this lovely piece more fine..
such as I would of loved more and said less.it should be have rather than of here..and so on..
you have played with some beautiful words and phrases here...
I didn't know laughter and dreams would fade away.

If I knew I would of try to stop time.

Hold you like you were my last breath.
Eyes of youth had faded away with life burdens and losses.
oh..how we always weep silently trying to hold on to what is fading away..life has such cruel mechanisms that your heart can never agree to..yet like the unclasping of sand one has to give it away.

[Alicante lullaby]

it was like a gentle dream that broke..you summed up so much longing into a little piece.poetic.

[Desert Dreamer]

"If I knew.
I would of loved more and said less."
This is great advice we should all listen to. But you do know now and can follow these words of your Grandfather. Very well written. The words in your poem are those of a wise man.

[Terry Collett]

I love the poem. I feel the sensibilties of the theme. Two typos? = I would (of) = have. I see a(tire) man. Did you mean a tired man? I want to add to my favourites.

[Elissa; the genuine art..]

This is an amazing write.
" If I knew.
I would of loved more and said less."
I agree. But I'm just young and learning.
Thank you for adding this poem.
You've given me a head start in life, because now I DO know.
You have to love all you can.
Life is long and hard but it's also too short to waste.
Great work!

-Elissa :D

[THERISA]

It is through lost, we find value, in the things, that we had. Realizing tomorrow may never come again. Thus, we must live in the moment, saviouring the joy and sorrow, which marks our passage through life. Thank you, for opening yourself emotionally to us, in this poem.

[closed account]

this was beautifuly sad, a well written piece, i
happen to believe that everyone is in your life
for a purpose, even if its a short time.

[A.Lee]

I like the way your writing makes you think.... Great work.

[Vava]

I think this poem just reaches out to the reader. All people look back and wish they could stop or reverse the flow of time, wishing of something to come back, either its happy days, a second of joy, or a loss of a loved one. Its something we all wish for , a never ending love on this limited time of a world.